Durham Police has said it would not be taking further action against Mr Cummings
A Freedom of Information (FoI) request by the BBC has revealed that the Durham Constabulary had fined two people who journeyed from London to Peterlee on 8 April, about a week after Dominic Cummings, the chief adviser to Downing Street, made the same 260 mile journey when his wife had coronavirus symptoms.
Mr Cummings justified the journey, which took place days after the start of the UK lockdown, by saying it was easier to self-isolate and seek childcare on his parents’ farm.
Police across England and Wales issued around 3,200 fines in the first two-and-a-half weeks after the regulations came into force on 27 March, but the total has now risen to more than 14,000.
Provisional figures show that the Durham Constabulary had handed out 137 fines in total up to 11 May.
The government and the police, have both refused to review fines handed out under coronavirus laws as a consequence of Mr Cummings’ trip.
“The legislation includes a non-exhaustive list of reasonable excuses for leaving home. “Policing’s approach has been to engage, explain, encourage and only enforce as a last resort. That position has been promoted consistently since the introduction of the restrictions.
“If anyone believes they have been issued a fine in error – for any reason - they can challenge it at court.”
The Health Protection Regulations make it illegal to leave home or be outside “without reasonable excuse”.
But the law lists several exceptions including “to access critical public services, including childcare or educational facilities”.
A British police investigation has concluded that Dominic Cummings did breach the coronavirus lockdown but that it was minor and so they will take no further action, the Telegraph reported.
Mr Cummings said he made a trip to Barnard Castle on Easter Sunday to test his eyesight.
"Dominic Cummings did break lockdown rules when he made a 50-mile journey to Barnard Castle, an investigation by Durham Police has concluded," The Telegraph said. The force "said it would not be taking any further action against Mr Cummings."
Mr Cummings brazenly went to work in Westminster while his wife was ill and visited a hospital to pick up his son after developing Covid-19 symptoms himself.
Boris Johnson has rejected calls for Mr Cummings to face an inquiry over his actions, suggesting it would not be a “very good use of official time” during the pandemic.
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